Mount Sinai
Mount Sinai is also called the Mount of Moses, because according to biblical legends, the Tablets of the Covenant were handed over to the prophet at its location. Therefore, from year to year, hundreds of believers make a pilgrimage to it every day, climbing to the very top, but even more it attracts ordinary tourists.
Conquest of Sinai
Two paths lead up the mountain: one is difficult, but shorter in length. It is most often used by pilgrims. The second one is lighter, but much longer, about 6 km.
Anyway, Elijah's Gorge connects both roads and is a great place to gain strength for the final ascent of the "Monastic Staircase", consisting of 700 steps, leading to the very top. If the climbing time is calculated correctly, you can meet the dawn on it, admiring the beautiful views of the entire Sinai Range.
Climate
Sinai is best visited in spring or autumn. Summers here are very hot, and the winter months are frosty, snowy and accompanied by strong winds.
Geological structure of Sinai
At the heart of the mountain lie rocks with uniform layers. The presence of alabaster in their composition determines its brownish color. The massif consists of slate and granite. The soil is loam and soil with a fine-grained loose structure. There are no rivers and streams here, but there are many springs and wells.
Plant and fauna
Due to the lack of water, the flora of Sinai is not so diverse. It is only limited to lichens, wormwood, camel thorn, aloe, little tea. Sinai is a wintering place for goldfinches, bluethroat. Sedentary representatives of birds also build their nests. There are many reptiles - monitor lizards, geckos, snakes of various kinds. Everywhere there are scorpions and locusts, clusters of cockroaches and ants.
Something else interesting
On the entire route to the top there are many churches, temples, chapels and even a mosque built in honor of the visit of Sinai by the Prophet Muhammad. You can see the cave where Moses lived for 40 days and nights before handing over the sacred tablets to him. Traveling through Sinai, you come across ancient inscriptions in Georgian and Armenian.
